Journey to Pentecost

April 19, 2010    John 21.6

Don’t forget the other side!  How many times have we all been so narrow-minded that we focus on “one side of the ship” and we forget the other side?   When Jesus, as a carpenter, gave these professional fishermen some advice – it could have been disastrous.  Imagine someone who cut wood and made tables and chairs for a living giving a group of professional fishermen advice – telling them where to cast their nets!   The fact that Peter and the boys didn’t run Him off was amazing within itself.   Jesus gave these guys some advice…and it worked!  They pulled in the master catch!   It was such a catch they had to have help to get it in to shore.  Once again, we find ourselves dealing with the practical life side of Jesus – where He gets real with His followers.

I can’t help but consider how much Jesus approached His resurrection with sheer simplicity.  He was the Son of God.  He was the only one who foretold His death and resurrection.  He was alive and engaged in manifesting Himself to those whom He came to save.  He was a miracle.  He could have focused on Himself.  He could have had words with these fishermen – some who had abandoned Him in His greatest moment of need.  He didn’t though.  His priority was kingdom issues. 

I wonder if Jesus were to give us instructions to “cast our net on the other side” if we would listen to Him?  Without a doubt we would “listen” to His instructions on our spiritual life.  Pray here, forgive this, love that!  But when it comes to the more practical side of life – how many of us are “listening” to Him?  How many of us are praying and waiting for Him to lead us into business decisions?  Corporate decisions?  Budget decisions?  Sales advice?  Product management?  Research and developement?  Probably not many.  But yet Jesus who was God in the flesh (John 1) took the time to not scream at these fishermen for not being out preaching ahead of Him – but gave them to instructions as to where and how to become profitable.  Success wasn’t in the latest book it was in hearing the voice of the Master.

I recall a rich young ruler who approached Jesus about eternal life.  Jesus gave Him some practical advice.  The rich young ruler had taken much pride in his ability to keep the law and make money.  He took pride in the fact that he was not like all the “other” people in his community.  Jesus read between the lines and told the young man to go and sell all he had and give it to the poor.  He couldn’t do it and he walked away “very sad” the Bible says.  He wouldn’t listen to Jesus tell him to put his net on the other side.  He was so focused on one side of the ship he couldn’t succeed in business the right way.  He ignored the advice from Jesus who at this point was a money manager for the young man.  He was a stock broker for the man.  He was an investment manager.  He told the young man to invest his money in others.  He ignored the invest advice and walked away unfulfilled with life.  

Jesus wants to be a part of our everyday life.  He wants to be there at decision time.  He wants to be there at investing time.  He wants to give instructions.  He doesn’t want us to miss the other side of the boat.  We can easily walk away from tremendous blessings by not keeping Jesus in the loop of our life economically, vocationally, spiritually and personally.  We can and do – miss out on the “master load” on the other side of the boat.  Just mere feet away from our reach.

On this journey to Pentecost I want you to let Jesus give you advice.  Rather on business, personal relationships, investments, etc.  I want you to let Him become part of your everyday experiences with life.  On this journey to Pentecost I want you to throw all your preconceived ideas of being personally baptized in the Holy Spirit away.  I want you to cast your faith net on the other side.  Try it.  You may bring in the greatest spiritual “catch” you could ever imagine.  Listen to His advice.   Cast your net on the other side.